Instructs Church not to admit any man with homosexual tendencies to the priestly ministry

Homosexuality in the Church “is something that worries me,” Pope Francis says in a soon to be published book, adding that priests who are actively gay should leave instead of living a double life.

The pope said that men who suspect they may be harboring homosexual tendencies should not apply to join the Catholic clergy, while anyone who cannot keep their vows of celibacy should also reconsider their positions, Reuters reported on Dec. 2.

The book, “The Strength of Vocation,” focuses on the challenges facing priests and nuns in the Church today.

It is based on an extended interview the pope gave to Spanish Father Fernando Prado and is due to be released in several languages including Italian this week, the media reports.

While homosexual tendencies are not viewed by the Church as inherently sinful there is “no room for this” in the lives of clergy, Pope Francis said.

He said the Church must be more “demanding” in choosing those who apply to represent it.

“For this reason, the Church urges that persons with this rooted tendency not be accepted into [priestly] ministry or consecrated life,” he said.

Two weeks after Pope Francis gave the interview on Aug. 26, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a former Vatican ambassador, claimed a “homosexual network” in the Vatican was boosting the careers of those within its ranks.

He also said the pope had deliberately overlooked allegations of sexual misconduct filed against U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who in July became the first cardinal to resign in almost 100 years.

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